Slidable support system for portable storage containers

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is specific to a slidable support frame for supporting, storing and accessing a portable storage container from underneath structures used in any transportation vehicle including a boat or recreational vehicle, without sacrificing counter top, seating or floor space. A method of using this slidable support frame is also included.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to slidable support frames for portable storage containers used on boats and in recreational vehicles (RVs) with limited floor space, accessibility and storage of coolers under leaning posts, counter tops and seating areas.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Most boats and recreational vehicles have limited floor and storage space available for refrigerated storage. Insulated and non-insulated portable storage containers occupy space under leaning posts, counter tops, low shelving, bench seating or are placed upon limited floor space creating tripping hazards. Top-opening coolers, for example, stored under permanent structures are limited in accessibility and must be withdrawn to gain access. Many times the access is limited as the top opening lid is restricted from being fully opened by the structure(s) above. (Four Winns, Vista 288; Nautical Design Leaning Posts pg. 2, 3)

Portable storage containers commonly used on boats such as coolers, for example, are relatively large in size (e.g., seventy-two and ninety-four quart sizes are common) and can be heavy and awkward to move on a floor surface. Movement with the cooler bottom in contact with the floor or shelf surface can potentially mar the floor or cooler contact surface. Additional force is required to access the cooler in that the contact surfaces are not designed to be laterally moved across a surface. Location, weight and size put a user in danger of personal injury due to limited space and awkward positioning of the body.

In cases where portable storage containers such as coolers are firmly secured within the locating structures, the securing methods and confined space constraints severely limit, if not prohibit, container access. Securing coolers while in a stored position from unwanted movement, especially those in an accessible position, has not been addressed in present designs.

Thus, providing an easily moveable support frame allowing for easy placement of the portable storage container for storage, securing of the container, and full accessibility for a container without diminishing the useable amount of floor space is desirable.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,279, to Stahel, Patrick E., unassigned, describes a portable food and beverage cooler for use in conjunction with a platform seat as found in a rowboat or the like, with the cooler comprising a pair of spaced, substantially parallel chambers and an interconnecting planar portion that fits over and engages the platform seat.

U.S. Pat. No. RE32740, to Steffes, William J., assigned to The Coleman Co., describes a cooler having an inside surface which is provided with vertically extending retaining means for holding a shelf in a vertical position and horizontally extending supporting means for holding a shelf in a horizontal position but designing the handles in such a manners so as to allow the shelf to latch into handle features that will allow the shelf to be held horizontally on the exterior of the cooler.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,914, to Steinhoff, et. al., assigned to SPX Corp., describes an under the counter refrigeration unit providing controlled temperature storage for desired materials, the refrigeration unit comprising: a refrigerator cabinet having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, and defining an interior cavity for receiving materials to be stored; a refrigeration system for controlling a temperature in the interior cavity and including controls operable to control the refrigeration system; and a slide mechanism, such as drawer slides, operable to slidably support the refrigeration cabinet and at least part of the refrigeration system for sliding movement between a stored position under a counter top and an accessible position adjacent the counter top. The support frame includes a frame bottom and the refrigerator cabinet bottom is higher than the frame bottom to define a toe kick space below the refrigerator unit.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,310, to LeGrow, Mary, unassigned, describes a portable cooler for use in a vehicle having a plurality of storage areas and at least one fastener for facilitating securement of the housing to a vehicle seat wherein the fastener includes a pair of loop straps spaced from one another.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,642, to Kennedy, Thomas, assigned to TAK Enterprises, describes a combination cooler-seat-sports gear storage and transporting device, which comprises a cooler with an open front with a hinged door and further containing a plurality of horizontal drawer supports for a plurality of drawers located within the cooler and slidably connected to the drawer supports for horizontal opening and closing. At least a portion of the plurality of drawers are located inside the cooler behind the door; and a seat located on top of the cooler; and a handling means on the cooler for manually carrying same.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,643, to Kennedy, Thomas, assigned to TAK Enterprises, describes a combination cooler-seat-sports gear storage and transporting device, which comprises a cooler of two compartments with a first compartment with an open front with a hinged door and further containing a plurality of horizontal drawer supports for a plurality of drawers located within the cooler and slidably connected to the drawer supports for horizontal opening and closing with a second compartment being side-by-side to the first compartment and being a cooler with the second compartment being a top opening compartment having a top lid for access with a plurality of drawers located within the first compartment and slidably connected to the drawer supports for horizontal opening and closing thereof and a seat located on said top of the first compartment of the cooler so as to be side-by-side with the second compartment of the cooler and handling means on the cooler for manually carrying same.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,639, to Scherer, Patrick, unassigned, describes a portable cooler assembly comprising: insulated container means for storing and insulating contents therein and for minimizing heat transfer between the contents and the surrounding environment; said assembly characterized by said container means including step means for receiving a force thereon at an elevation between a lower surface and an upper surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,309, to Pifer, William J., unassigned, describes a cooler particularly suitable for use with recreational vehicles with compartments of two different depths wherein the deeper of the two is suitable for carrying block ice and an interior barrier partitioning off the two compartments.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,625,991, to Clark, George A., assigned to Delta T, LLC, describes a food chiller comprising: a housing including a horizontal base wall and upwardly extending enclosing side walls; a cold sink, a hot sink and a food container suspended from the housing with a downwardly facing duct and an ambient, fan driven air flow path through the housing The container is slidably attached to the housing.

Japanese Publication No. JP09042828A2 to Saito Masao, assigned to Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd., describes a drawer type refrigeration unit that pulls out from the main unit to aid in servicing

Japanese Publication No. JP07004824A2 to Fujimoto Hidetoshi, assigned to Matsushita Refrig Co Ltd., describes an insulation box from a front opening in the front direction by removing a fixing piece from the front direction of a main body, which makes it possible to replace a cooler in the insulation box with ease. In case when an open insulation box is used, it is possible to pull out the cooler and a machine chamber simultaneously and facilitate replacement work by removing a front insulation piece.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0262319, to Fisher, Keith E., unassigned, describes a cooler comprising: a container having an interior volume divided into a plurality of compartments and an optional support frame, having at least one raised flange, and the frame having a shape and dimensions corresponding to the shape and dimensions of cooler's bottom end so that the cooler securely fits within the frame and a means for securing the frame to a fixed surface. This patent teaches toward a portable cooler with several compartments in a support frame fixed to a location in a boat and teaches away from a moveable support frame.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,637, to Benza, Kenneth C., unassigned, describes a combination of a boat hull, the boat hull including side boards, a transom and a top deck assembly with a hull drain hole provided in one of said side boards and transom, and an ice chest slidably mounted in a recess in the top deck assembly. The ice chest comprises a drawer and a drawer drain hole for draining water, a mounting means for sliding the drawer and a stationary tray mounted in the bottom of the ice chest for receiving water drained from the ice chest and a conduit for discharging water from the tray out of the boat hull through a drain hole out of the boat hull. The mounting means consists of a pair of drawer roller slides fastened to a seat and within a recess located below the seat. This patent teaches toward a built in, non-portable ice chest with a draining means for a boat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The preferred object of the present invention support frame has a tray comprising a plurality of slides on the bottom wherein the support frame is slidably mounted underneath a leaning post, counter, seat or fixed surface on a boat or in a recreational vehicle. A portable storage container (insulated or non-insulated) is removeably placed on the support frame providing support for refrigerated like storage for food, bait or similar refrigerated items or for storage of personal or boating gear wherein linear movement to the support frame and portable storage container moves the combined unit as a system from a latched stored position to a fully accessible position and back. The tray includes holes or slots or a combination of holes and slots together with a securing means such as bolts, screws, fasteners, adhesives, and the like to secure the portable storage container to the slidable support frame.

A preferred slide mechanism preferably comprises a plurality of telescoping ball bearing slides secured to a deck, floor, cabinet base, cabinet wall or a combination of such and secured to the bottom planar surface of the tray of the support frame. The secured slides allow for linear motion from a stored position to one of accessibility for the portable storage container thereon. The slides incorporate an integral locking/unlocking mechanism such as a pin, pawl, brake, clamp or stop and are activated either manually or remotely by hydraulic, pneumatic, electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical means.

An object of the invention is to provide a support frame tray shape that will accommodate a portable storage container (insulated or non-insulated) within a restrictive confine of a space under a leaning post, counter, seat or within a cabinet and be shaped preferably rectangular, square, circular, triangular or the like to accommodate a portable storage container and the available space and may incorporate a smooth or textured surface.

It is also an object of the invention is to provide support frame barriers of a shape and in combination with other barriers that will restrain a portable storage container upon the tray top planar surface accommodating a portable storage container of such shapes as rectangular, square, circular or the like. The barriers may be molded as a singular construction, separate features attached or separate features adjustable to any size or shaped portable storage container.

It is also an object of the invention is to provide a vertical wall attached, adhered or molded to the tray bottom planar surface as a structural support for the sliding frame in the opened position to prevent damage to the sliding mechanisms and/or the tray surface should a user stand or sit on the sliding frame thereby exceeding the lateral weight limitations of the extended slides or the tray. Additionally the vertical wall may act as a toe plate safety device to prevent users from catching their toes under the slidable support frame.

An object of the present invention is to enable the above-described portable storage container to be preferably stored underneath a boat or recreational vehicle leaning post or counter including a counter top work surface and/or a bench seating arrangement within a cabinet or other fixed surface. The portable storage container is stored substantially entirely under the counter or seating surface and accessible on the support frame when released from a locked position and linearly withdrawn from under the leaning post, counter, seat surface or cabinet.

An additional object of the present invention is to enable storage of goods for coolers, for dry storage, and like items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the top of a slidable support frame for storing and accessing a portable storage container.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the bottom of a slidable support frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Disclosed is a slidable support frame for the storage and accessibility of portable storage containers for boats or recreational vehicles.

FIG. 1 shows a support frame [100] having a tray [105] with a top planar surface [110] and showing at least one optional barrier feature [120] located at the top planar corner(s) [130] locating a portable storage container [140] on the top planar surface [110] within the support frame [100]. The tray [105] also has a bottom planar surface [150] having at least one vertical wall [160] attached to the bottom planar surface [150]. Additionally, the bottom planar surface [150] has at least one mechanical slide [180] thereby enabling linear motion of the support frame [100] with or without portable storage container [140] for access or storage.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the support frame [100] and bottom planar surface [150] showing the fastening features [210] and the slide [180] location(s).

The tray [105] may be rectangular, square, round, trapezoidal, triangular or of any desired shape for the space allowed and of sufficient strength and may incorporate a smooth or textured surface.

The mechanical slide [180] incorporates a hole or slot feature [220] (shown as a hole) that allows for a locking pin [230] or mechanism to be placed through the hole or slot feature [220] thereby locking the slide [180] in an open or closed position. Other methods of locking and unlocking the slide [180] such as utilizing a pin, pawl, brake, clamp or stop and activated manually or remotely by hydraulic, pneumatic, electro-magnetic, electro-mechanical means will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

While the principles of this invention have been described in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood clearly that these descriptions are made only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

1. A portable storage container slidable support frame comprising; a tray comprising a top planar surface, and a bottom planar surface, wherein said bottom planar surface comprises a vertical wall and sliding mechanism, wherein said sliding mechanism comprises telescoping slides that provide for linear movement of said tray along said slidable support frame.
 2. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 1, wherein said tray includes holes or slots or a combination of holes and slots together with a securing means to secure said portable storage container to said slidable support frame.
 3. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 1, wherein said tray can be shaped in any proper geometry including rectangular, square, circular, triangular or the like, and wherein any surface of said tray is smooth or textured.
 4. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 1, wherein said slides attached to said bottom planar surface are additionally secured to a floor, base or cabinet wall of any transportation vehicle such as a boat or recreational vehicle.
 5. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 1, wherein said slides include a locking/unlocking mechanism such as a pin, pawl, brake, clamp or stop and wherein said slides are activated either manually or remotely using hydraulic, pneumatic, electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices thereby securing said support frame in any desired position.
 6. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 1, wherein said linear movement along an axial direction provides for either storage of or access to said portable storage container.
 7. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 1, wherein said top planar surface has either no barrier features or at least one or more attached barrier features on a top side of said top planar surface and wherein said barrier features are of a shape that will restrain movement of said portable storage container.
 8. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 1, wherein said barrier features are adjustable to the size and shape of said portable storage container.
 9. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 1, wherein said tray, said barrier features and said vertical wall may be attached to, adhered to, or singularly molded to said support frame.
 10. A portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 1, wherein said tray or said portable storage container provides a storage space.
 11. A method for using a portable storage container slidable support frame comprising; a tray comprising a top planar surface, and a bottom planar surface, wherein said bottom planar surface comprises a vertical wall and a sliding mechanism, wherein said sliding mechanism comprises telescoping slides that provide for linear movement of said tray along said support frame and wherein a user provides manual, electrical, or hydraulic work to said sliding mechanism.
 12. A method for using a portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 11, wherein said tray includes holes or slots or a combination of holes and slots together with a securing means for securing said portable storage container to said slidable support frame.
 13. A method for using a portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 11, wherein said tray can be shaped in any proper geometry including rectangular, square, circular, triangular or the like, and wherein any surface of said tray is smooth or textured.
 14. A method for using a portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 11, wherein said slides attached to said bottom planar surface are additionally secured to a floor, base or cabinet wall of any transportation vehicle such as a boat or recreational vehicle.
 15. A method for using a portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 11, wherein said slides include a locking/unlocking mechanism such as a pin, pawl, brake, clamp or stop and wherein said slides are activated either manually or remotely using hydraulic, pneumatic, electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices thereby securing said support frame in any desired position.
 16. A method for using a portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 11, wherein said linear movement along an axial direction provides for either storage of or access to said portable storage container.
 17. A method for using a portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 11, wherein said top planar surface has either no barrier features or at least one or more attached barrier features on a top side of said top planar surface and wherein said barrier features are of a shape that will restrain movement of said portable storage container.
 18. A method for using a portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 11, wherein said barrier features are adjustable to the size and shape of said portable storage container.
 19. A method for using a portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 11, wherein said tray, said barrier features and said vertical wall may be attached to, adhered to, or singularly molded to said support frame.
 20. A method for using a portable storage container slidable support frame as in claim 11, wherein said tray or said portable storage container is providing a storage space. 